Featuring:
*Two Years of H.E. Paul Kagame after elections
*Key Sector by Sector development review
*Uganda exports to Rwanda

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This presentation is designed and organised by the New Vision Internet Department.

Editor Davis J. Weddi

Paul Kagame is working towards a united Rwanda

By Arthur Baguma
ELEVEN years since he led a force that liberated Rwanda, Paul Kagame has proven an exceptional leader and statesman- one likely to lead Rwanda to a destination fervently craved by Rwandans.

And the final destination is the Vision 2020 — the long-term development path for Rwanda outlining ambitious goals to be achieved by 2020. The vision presents key priorities and provides Rwandans with a guiding tool for the future.
It supports a clear Rwandan identity, while showing ambition, and imagination in overcoming poverty and divisions.

Once a poverty-ravaged country whose existence and world image was seriously undermined by genocide, Rwanda is now standing on its feet. The country has over the last decade transformed.

At the helm of this transformation is President Paul Kagame-a revolutionary guerilla turned statesman.

The developments under his leadership depict a man with a mission to accomplish for his country.

Observers and his critics have likened Kagame to the Biblical Moses and believe he is determined to lead his people to the Promised Land. The land of unity and togetherness where ethnic divisions, poverty, illiteracy and hatred are non-existent.

As Kagame marks his second anniversary in power as Rwanda’s democratically elected President, Rwandans have cause to celebrate. His visionary leadership has raised a country whose claim to fame on the international arena was for the wrong reasons, to a country looked at as a role model in development.

From the views of Rwandans, President Paul Kagame’s vision for Rwanda is on course. In his own words, Kagame’s vision is a united country that feels itself as integrated into the sub-region family of nations: a country that is developed and has eradicated poverty — a country that is democratic and above all, a stable country at peace with itself as well as with its neighbours.

A story is told of how Kagame always punctuates his speeches with emphasis on putting the interests of ordinary people at the forefront, whenever he meets with leaders of people at all levels.

“We are here because of the people. They should not suffer. Why should we be here if we cant look into their needs and issues,” colleagues say these are words Kagame reminds leaders to ponder whenever they are executing their duties.

Last month several town leaders resigned their jobs. This followed a tour by the President in these areas. Analysts observed that the resignation could have a lot to do with several issues people put before the president that the local leaders could have addressed.
Described as a simple person, Kagame’s government derives its strength from the zeal to perform diligently motivated by a pro-people centred administration. “Our president is very simple and down to earth in all his endeavours. I grew up here (Rwanda) and saw presidents come and go. We have never had a leader with the qualities of Kagame in the history of this country,” says Domitilla Mukantaganzwa, the executive secretary, National Service of Gacaca Jurisdictions.

According to people who closely work with him, Kagame is friendly and is easily accessible.
“He is a man who shares in the life of the ordinary person. Travel to any country the world over and ask any one on the street, the number of times they meet their president physically, you will be surprised? In Rwanda a peasant can trek miles and meet the President personally,” Paul Bahati, a businessman in Kigali, says of a man he describes as his role model.

The economy is recovering. The construction industry is booming. The tourism industry has been boosted by construction of five-star hotels. And the road network has tremendously improved.

The level of attachment to patriotism is on the rise and the prospects for the future are promising. And at the centre of this reality is President Paul Kagame.

Renown for his adherence to regulations, Kagame is always described as a strict disciplinarian.

And yet behind the facet of the former guerilla warrior is a compassionate man who feels for his country.

On his upcountry tours Kagame directly answers questions from the public.
And he has sometimes been seen driving alone on the streets, charting and waving to people on the streets.

The most remarkable aspect of Rwandan politics is Kagame’s voluntary transformation from a guerilla leader to a statesman. Colleagues describe him as an incorruptible teetotaller.
Perhaps one of his biggest strengths in the public eye, is his love for simplicity and the zeal with which he has fought corruption. Kagame is a low key and dislikes flamboyance. When four-wheel drive cars of government officials were impounded recently, many thought he was not going to live to his word.

But he has since maintained this position. Many of these cars have been sold off while others are still packed awaiting potential buyers.

His reasoning is quite patriotic and in the interest of saving the taxi payers money. Why should a minister leading poverty stricken people drive a car worth sh100m. It is ridiculous. The president got it right on this and other countries should learn from us,” observes a resident of Gisenyi.

Kagame is an all-rounder. He is not only a successful politician but also a sportsman.
His soccer skills though not to professional standards are good enough. He got accolades from Ugandans when he featured in a soccer match with President Yoweri Museveni at an old boys reunion of Ntare old boys a few years ago in Mbarara.

He is popularly known as the chief moral booster of Amavubi — the Rwanda national team. And many times he joins the crowds in cheering the team.

“Such a spirit is unusual of politicians,” remarks an ardent admirer of Kagame.
Kagame loves playing lawn tennis and reading during his free time. His Prime Minister and the Minister of Health have a passion for volleyball and basketball respectively.
Kagame bankrolls the CECAFA club championships with about $60,000 annually.
The political will to promote sports is high in this country.

“If you tell him that you are going to organise a sports event, he will be more than willing to support you. He has bankrolled several sports activities-even from his own pocket,” says Gaspard Kayijuka director of sports in the ministry of Sports.

And yet when it comes to Information Communication Technology (ICT), Kagame has become a household name in this industry.

He has been invited to several international ICT meets where he has given moving speeches on the role of ICT in development. Little wonder in his own country ICT is one of the fastest growing sectors.

What is yet to be established about his passion for ICT is whether he is a genius in issues of ICT technology. And the Finance Minister Prof. Nshuti Paul Manaffeh has some clues to the answer.

“He (Kagame) is good, very good at Information Communication Technology, that is where he derives his passion for information technology development in the country.”
Like, the old adage says, behind every successful man is a woman.

Alongside Kagame is his wife Jeanette Kagame. She is at the forefront of promoting girl child education and the fight against HIV/AIDS in Rwanda. She initiated the establishment of the Protection and Care of Families Against HIV/AIDS, (PACFA).

“We should fight against all things that deprive girls of education and this will help the country to attain sustainable development,” Jeanette said at a function recently.
Paul Kagame was born in October 1957 to Deogratius and Asterria Rutagambwa in the Central Prefecture of Gitarama.

During the 1959 ethnic violence that caused the exodus of many Tutsi into exile, the Rutagambwa family fled to Uganda where they lived in a refugee camp.

After the death of Maj. Gen. Fred Gisa Rwigyema, the Rwanda Patriotic Front’s (RPA) charismatic leader in October 1990, Kagame left his military training in the USA and led the fledging RPA forces that stopped the genocide and took over power in July 1994.